How much of that has been through choice and how much because it has just “happened”, that you have just drifted into?

In a lot of our lives, there can be things when, if someone asked us why we are living in this house going to this group, etc., where we might not be able to give a clear answer: “I just fell into it.”

I fell into project management and administration because that’s how my mind works, putting things into plans. Add to that my ability to ask questions and draw out peoples’ ideas and you can see how I drifted into a career in fundraising.

So drifting can be fine?

It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The drifting has happened because you don’t have strong feelings either way.

Or the drifting could be the thing that is stopping or blocking you. And you can drift into believing that you don’t have a choice.

To carry on the analogy, before you know it, it can be like being carried too far out to sea by a strong current. Getting out of your depth can be a very creative place to be, if you are aware of where you are and are active. But you can also find yourself in unfriendly waters, buffeted by the elements, passive and out of control.

As an example, having fallen into my fundraising career, I had a period where I felt it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Then I had a series of personal events which took over and I parked changing my career. I simply didn’t have the head space to deal with a further upheaval so I trod water. Once the other areas of my life settled down, I could refocus on my career and swim against the tide, making the changes I needed.

So if you feel you are drifting and you don't want to be, how can you begin to make those changes?

Create a picture of what you want in every area of your life.

Decide which parts of your life you are happy with, those you can live with and the real pain points, the bits with which aren’t happy.